Summary

Berlin—The German government's proposed cuts in its 1997 research and education budget are encountering opposition from parliamentarians trying to protect domestic research. Research and education minister Jürgen Rüttgers is seeking approval for a $10 billion budget—2.5% less than this year—and is also trying to streamline Germany's research centers by reducing government regulation, increasing autonomy, and making the funding process more competitive. Also at stake are the substantial German contributions to four international labs: the CERN particle physics center, the European Southern Observatory, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and the Institut Laue-Langevin.